A popular Barrow sportsman, regarded as a larger-than-life character, has died suddenly.
Rod Heywood, 75, played cricket and rugby union for a number of years and later became a keen supporter of the Cumberland, now Cumbria, cricket side acting as team manager.
His sporting interest started with his local Leven Valley cricket club before he moved on to Ulverston and then Barrow.
He was tall, over 6ft, and had a unique style of keeping wicket – often claiming stumpings off his pads and catching the ball in his pads!
After a lengthy stint with Barrow he moved to Askam where he ended his playing career but for a number of years was the groundsman at the Barrow club.
He was also a prop forward over many years for the Furness club, and well known throughout the county in the days of social rugby and before the establishment of the Leagues.
Ken Robinson was a close friend and Barrow team-mate over many years, and also an opponent on the rugby field – facing him on many occasions in the front row playing for local rivals Vickers.
He said: “He was a very good friend and when we used to square-up ahead of the first scrum one of us would say ‘are we gonna fight today or play rugby. We had some great battles.’
“Whenever we met up in later years we would have a pint together and have a good chat, usually about the old days.
“In fact I had a pint with him at the Barrow club after the game on Saturday so I was really shocked to hear that he had died on Sunday.
“He was one of those lads who would do anything for you, a great clubman and he will certainly be missed.”
Rod was also a steam train enthusiast and on various trips away to watch Cumberland would often try and fit in trips to appropriate lines and stations nearby.
Another former team-mate at Barrow cricket, Ray Mowat said: “Rod was one of those larger than life characters. He was well known by opposing teams for insisting they had a drink with him after a game whatever the result.”
Eric Carter, the Cumbria county cricket club President said: “Rod joined the County committee in the 1980’s and served as team manager for a number of years in the 1990’s. We were very sad to hear that he had died ahead of our county game at Barrow on Sunday.
“In recent years he very often used to join us for away games which he had fitted in with his passion for steam engines, visiting museums in the area or taking a trip on one of them.”
Rod, who worked for a number of years for the Council in Barrow, leaves a wife Fran.
